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Business creates opportunities for people to work together, understand different perspectives and build shared interests. UECN connects businesses across China and the UAE to encourage cooperation, strengthen mutual understanding and contribute to peace.
Discover Our MissionDubai Municipality has released the Planning and Building Requirements Guide for Shared Housing and Permitted Areas to implement Dubai Law No. 4 of 2026. The new guidelines establish updated occupancy and safety standards across more than 44 designated zones. Properties must be categorized strictly for individual or family use, with a minimum bedroom space of 5 square metres per resident.
The Sharjah Executive Council has issued a regulatory decision establishing the Sharjah Occupational Safety and Health System (OSHJ). The policy mandates workplace and accommodation safety standards across all public entities and private businesses in the emirate. Enforcement authority and inspection powers have been designated to the Sharjah Police alongside provisions for administrative fines.
The UAE Federal Tax Authority has issued a new guide regarding scope and registration for the Top-up Tax on multinational enterprises. The document supports multinational enterprise groups in understanding obligations under the Qualified Domestic Minimum Top-up Tax regime and OECD/G20 Pillar Two framework. It details in-scope criteria, registration timelines, and reporting requirements ensuring an effective tax rate of at least 15%.
French artificial intelligence company Mistral has announced the upcoming release of its largest open-weight model, Mistral Large 4, nicknamed Le Chonk. Speaking at a company event in Abu Dhabi, CEO Arthur Mensch claimed the model outperforms Chinese rivals in specific areas such as cybersecurity. The system is scheduled for public release on October 27, following a €3 billion funding round.
The fifth edition of the Michelin Guide Dubai features 122 restaurants across 38 cuisine types, adding 19 new venues to the roster. Two restaurants retained three stars, while Orfali Bros joined three other venues in the two-star category. The overall selection has nearly doubled in size since the guide first launched in the emirate.
Understand the policies, laws and regulations shaping business across China and the UAE.
Business registration · Investment · Taxation · Customs · Trade · Financial regulation · Employment · Visas · Free-zone policies
The UAE has introduced rules designed to gradually reduce sodium, total sugars, and fats in selected packaged foods sold across retail shelves. The regulations apply to both locally produced and imported goods, including bread, dairy products, salty snacks, and processed cheese. Healthcare professionals highlighted that the population-level initiative aims to curb rates of obesity, hypertension, diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases.
Time Out Dubai outlined key changes arriving in Dubai for winter 2026/2027, including new anti-commercial fraud rules from the Ministry of Economy and Tourism. The updated regulation mandates the withdrawal of counterfeit products within 24 hours of notification, alongside airline upgrades and leisure reopenings.
ADEPTS Chartered Accountants has launched a free online ICV Score Calculator for businesses competing for UAE government and semi-government tenders. The tool estimates performance across local spending, investment, Emiratisation, and employee costs using National ICV framework weightings. The firm highlighted that the tool serves as a planning mechanism and does not replace formal certification by authorized bodies.
Follow the trade, investment and partnerships bringing China and the UAE closer together.
The Dubai Business Associates programme has welcomed 23 professionals from 15 countries for its 12th cohort after receiving 14,600 applications globally. Participants, who include graduates from China's Tsinghua and Peking universities, will complete nine months of business placements and consulting projects across key Dubai public and private sector organisations. The programme is run under Falcon and Associates and has built a network of 350 alumni across 11 previous cohorts.
AD Ports Group subsidiary Noatum Logistics has launched a dedicated global business line focused on fairs and events logistics. The new organisation operates with dedicated teams across key markets, including the United Arab Emirates and Greater China. It builds upon existing event logistics operations in the UAE, which have served major international exhibitions such as IDEX and NAVDEX.
The Xposure International Photography and Film Awards 2026–2027 received over 22,000 submissions from 108 countries, with China, the UAE, and India leading participation. Judging is now underway ahead of the 11th edition of the Xposure International Photography Festival in Sharjah. Finalists and winners will be announced during the festival and featured in its exhibition programme.
The electric vehicle market in the United Arab Emirates is projected to grow at an annual rate of 5.9%, reaching approximately $197.0 million by 2026 and $246.3 million by 2030. According to research cited by Simply Wall St, expansion is driven by accelerating EV adoption and sustained investments in charging infrastructure. The market study evaluates over 100 key performance indicators across sales, vehicle electrification, and infrastructure readiness.
Explore the industries creating new opportunities for cooperation across both markets.
Technology & Digital Economy
French artificial intelligence firm Mistral AI is considering investing in UAE data centres as part of a regional infrastructure expansion, according to chief executive Arthur Mensch. Speaking at the AI Everything summit in Abu Dhabi, Mensch praised the UAE's sovereign cyber defence capabilities in repelling digital threats. The company also announced the launch of its Mistral Large 4 model, designed to compete with open-source models from China.
Technology & Digital Economy
A survey commissioned by Workday reveals that UAE employees save an average of 3.6 hours per week using artificial intelligence tools. However, workers spend an average of 3.4 hours weekly correcting and rewriting AI outputs, leaving net time gains modest. Adoption is widespread, with 90 percent of surveyed UAE workers using AI at least weekly.
Finance & Investment
Deutsche Bank has announced three senior appointments in its Dubai office to expand its investment banking portfolio and client coverage across the Middle East. The appointments include Ilya Korobov as Director of Debt Capital Markets CEEMEA, Adel Taleb as Director within the Distressed Products Group, and Nitin Sawhney as Head of the Institutional Client Group MENA. The expansion follows major regional sovereign and corporate bond issuances handled by the bank.
Manufacturing
UAE-based powder coatings manufacturer Qemtex announced that its Umm Al Quwain plant has reached full operational capacity less than two years after starting production. The company is evaluating an investment of up to Dh40 million to expand output, upgrade equipment, and improve technical capabilities. Expansion plans are driven by rising demand from GCC real estate and infrastructure projects.
Stay informed about official travel advisories, entry restrictions and transport disruptions across the Middle East.
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